Technology to Enhance Instruction

Integrating Instructional Technology

Integrating Instructional Technology of the Comprehensive Classroom Technology
Plan is an important topic to discuss. Using technology to facilitate learning carries
possible pros and con as well as the differences between wired and wireless
classrooms. The Comprehensive Classroom Technology Plan will focus on the use of
technology used to facilitate and enhance instruction in the classroom such as the
use of Electronic Devices, Classroom Websites and Student Educational Websites.
(Wireless-Laptop)
A wireless laptop or ipad is a great way to use technology to facilitate and enhance
instruction in the classroom. A laptop or ipad is a great tool because it facilitates
instruction in a way that a student can take it with them anywhere in the room, they
can take notes, watch videos, complete online worksheets, take quizzes and even
print them out for assessment. All curriculum and lesson content can be enhanced
by having access to eBooks, resources, pintables and scores which enhances the
students motivation, participation and overall learning experience. Wireless
Computers (WCs) provide a wide variety of new instructional possibilities, including
collaborative presentations and whiteboard interaction, live audio and video,
animated examples, independent and instructor-directed web surfing, and other
powerful multimedia methods. Says, Griffioen, J., Seales, B.L, and Lumpp, J.E. Jr.
(1998)
(Classroom Website)
A Classroom website is a safe, easy and fun technology tool that not only can be
used to communicate with parents and students outside the classroom but can be
incorporated into a classroom to facilitate and enhance instruction. classroom
websites have the potential to scaffold students' learning by extending curriculum
materials that can be used for independent or socially constructed learning.
Holcomb, L. B., Castek, J. M., & Johnson, P. R. (2007). The curriculum that can be
enhanced through the use of technology is math, reading and spelling through soft
wares, web tools and other hardware incorporated into the teacher website,
instruction enhancement is limitless.
(Student Educational Websites)
A student Educational Website can be used in combination with traditional
lesson plans. Common Core websites like learningfarm.com are great technology
tools to use in the classroom to enhance and facilitate instruction. Learning Farm
and many other sites are free sites that are fun and easy to use and best of all are
aligned to common core standards. Learning Farm website is used in the classroom
to facilitate and enhance instruction by offering a variety of activities that are

aligned to common Core standards. It can be easily utilized by on a daily basis;

interacting and testing on the website curriculum which includes reading, writing,
math and comprehension games. All common core subjects can be enhanced
through the use of technology via this website given this website is a common core
product. Classroom websites, one of the emerging tools for meeting the demands
of living and working in an information society, have the potential to address and
meet the challenges facing education. (Holcomb, L. B., Castek, J. M., & Johnson, P.
R. (2007)).
Pros and Cons of using Technology to Facilitate Learning
While there are Pros to using technology in a classroom to enhance instruction,
there are also cons. Technology will impact the classroom by promoting deeper
learning and improving student engagement which will result in better learning,
results and testing. Students can access online material and resources at any time
and any place that has internet connection; this includes mobile phones and tablets.
With technology the students access to instructional material and flexibility is
increased. The downside of having technology is the finance, time and accessibility
issues. Cost is one of the biggest issues with increased technology. The cost of
technology tools such as computers, laptops, I pads, website fees and software or
hardware are high, not to mention the cost of training staff to learn to use these
tools efficiently enough to show their students. Another Con in the increase of
technology is time itself; Time for the training of teachers and time during the day
to teach students how to utilize such technology. As exciting and efficient as the
incorporation of technology sounds in an educational setting, some students may
be uncomfortable and others unable to use these tools due to special education
needs. Schools must take into consideration different students needs and
accommodate them. The impact the cons may have in a classroom is the noninvolvement of the schools to pursue technology based curriculum due to the
limitations. It all comes down to the method in which you incorporate technology
into the classroom Technology, in itself however, does not embody new pedagogy.
It is the ways that the technology is used to support pedagogical goals that makes
its use successful.(Kervin, L., Verenikina, I., Jones, P., & Beath, O.2013).
Wired and Wireless Classrooms
A wired classroom is one that obviously requires wires and physical restraints to
buildings while a wireless classroom is less intrusive, has no wires and uses a
wireless network. Both access methods have Pros and Cons that impact instruction
and student learning. A wired classroom is equipped with electric and network
cabling directly connected to each desk. A wireless device is connected by picking
up a signal from a router that sends a signal. The wired devices speeds are much
slower than the wireless, but usually have more memory than wireless devices.
Although laptops and other devices are great in terms of mobility and access, they
tend to be more fragile and easily ruined if dropped or spilled on. Use your eBook to

support the definitions you provide here. If using direct quotes be sure to include
quotation marks around the definitions as well as your in-text citation.) New
wireless computers and mobile devices with wireless Internet access, including
tablets, netbooks, notebook computers, and smartphones, simplify and expand your
communications abilities. In addition to impacting computers and mobile devices,
wireless technology is changing many other hardware devices, such as printers and
video projectors, which traditionally needed wires to transmit data.)According to
GCU eBook, (Discovering Computers (Pg. 260))
Conclusion
A Comprehensive Classroom Technology Plan is imperative in Integrating
Instructional technology into the classroom. There are pros and cons to using
technology in the classroom as well as there are pros and cons and differences
between wired and wireless classrooms. The use of Electronic Devices, Classroom
Websites and Student Educational Websites to facilitate and enhance instruction in
the classroom is what the Comprehensive Classroom Technology Plan is focused on.
Without a classroom Technology plan that is clear and precise, students will not fully
benefit from all of its attributes.
AIPTC

References

http://library.gcu.edu:2048/login?
url=http://search.ebscohost.com.library.gcu.edu:2048/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=a9h&AN=66819892&site=eds-live&scope=site
Holcomb, L. B., Castek, J. M., & Johnson, P. R. (2007). Unlocking the Potential of K-12
Classroom Websites to Enhance Learning. New England Reading Association Journal,
43(1), 36-43.
Kervin, L., Verenikina, I., Jones, P., & Beath, O. (2013). Investigating synergies
between literacy, technology and classroom practice. Australian Journal Of
Language & Literacy, 36(3), 135-147
Teachers Discovering Computers: Integrating Technology in a Connected World.
Retrieved from e-Library Resource; http://gcumedia.com/digitalresources/cengage/2014/teachers-discovering-computers_integrating-technology-ina-changing-world_ebook_8e.php
Like many teachers, I want to be able to turn off (and on)Internet access to the
students in my classroom. There may be times when access is appropriate for a
particular exercise, but there are also times when I need to decrease or eliminate
the number of electronic distractions. While classroom access to the Internet may
be a wonderful teaching tool, it can also be a barrier to learning.

Common Core Standards. States Standards initiative. Preparing Americas Students

for College and Career. Retrieved from; http://www.corestandards.org/ELALiteracy/W/2/
Griffioen, J., Seales, B.L. and Lumpp, J.E. Jr, (1998).Teaching in Real time Wireless
Classrooms. Retrieved from;
http://www.dcs.uky.edu/~wc/publication/1296/1296.html
Learning Farm. California Common Core. Retrieved from;
http://www.learningfarm.com/web/tour.cfm?myState=CA
Wireless Laptops in the Classroom (and the Sesame Street Syndrome). (2006).
Communications Zhang, S., Duke, N. K., Jimnez, L. M., & Jimnez, L. M. (2011). The
WWWDOT Approach to Improving Students' Critical Evaluation of Websites. Reading
Teacher, 65(2), 150-158. doi:10.1002/TRTR.01016
Zhang, S., Duke, N. K., Jimnez, L. M., & Jimnez, L. M. (2011). The WWWDOT
Approach to Improving Students' Critical Evaluation of Websites. Reading Teacher,
65(2), 150-158. doi:10.1002/TRTR.01016

It is not the technology that will answer to the challenges facing education, but
with technology, schools and teachers can individualize instruction, provide
additional resources, and open the door to lifelong learning opportunities for today's
generation of students.(Holcomb, 2007)